THIS is the youngster left an orphan after a horrific arson attack on her home which killed her parents.

THIS is the youngster left an orphan after a horrific arson attack on her home which killed her parents.

Lucy Cochrane, 16, is in a serious but stable condition at Wythenshawe hospital after the blaze at Warmley Road, Brooklands, on Thursday.

Her brother David, 25, is at her bedside as she shows improvement in her fight for life. He has travelled to Manchester from his home in London.

Lucy and David's mother, Maureen Cochrane, 45, died in the fire, which was so intense it stripped plaster from the walls. Their father Alex, 54, suffered serious injuries in the fire and died in hospital on Sunday.

In the days immediately after the blaze Lucy was in a critical condition, but her condition improved yesterday.

Attempted attack

Police and fire chiefs are investigating the attack after establishing it was started deliberately. There are also looking at an attempted arson attack at the Cochrane home the Saturday before the fatal blaze. At 7am on January 7, a substance thought to be oil or petrol was found on the front door, but no damage was caused to the house.

Officers are also trying to find out if there is a link between the fire at Warmley Road and a blaze at a house on Swalecliff Avenue, Brooklands that started 45 minutes afterwards.

Fire crews rescued Lucy and her father from their house after it became engulfed with flames and smoke, but they were unable to save Mrs Cochrane, who had raised the alarm. Neighbours, who described the Cochranes as a "lovely" and "hardworking", have been devastated by the tragedy.

Anyone who was in the Warmley Road area on Saturday 7 January at around 7am or on Thursday 12 January between midnight and 1am and saw anything suspicious is asked to contact police on 0161 856 7834 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Police are continuing to question a man on suspicion of murder. The 39-year-old suspect, from Stockport, was arrested on Sunday night.

Anyone with information should call police on 0161 856 7834 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.